(New York Times) — Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg said Tuesday that he would ask New York State to turn over control of prisons and services for juvenile offenders to local governments, a move that he said would end the failed and costly practice of shipping troubled young people from New York City to upstate facilities far […]
(Corrections) — Pretty bad. From 1987 to 2007, the U.S. prison population nearly tripled.[1] The American prison population in 2004 was eight times larger than it was in 1954.[2] In 2008, it was 40 times greater than it was in 1904.[3] On a per capita basis, there were 15 times more sentenced prisoners in 2008 […]
(AJC) — At least four Georgia prisons were locked down Thursday in an effort to head off an expected inmate protest demanding pay for the work they do, more education opportunities and better living conditions. “We have a non-negotiable mission to protect and serve the public, as well as the offenders in our custody,” said […]
(Crain’s) — New York City could save tens of millions of dollars a year if it did not incarcerate thousands of defendants charged with minor crimes — like hopping a turnstile, smoking marijuana in public or trespassing — before their trials, according to a new report by advocacy group Human Rights Watch. In 2008 alone, […]
(New York Times) — More than 48,800 of the nation’s prisoners claimed $130 million in fraudulent tax refunds by March of this year, and the numbers are probably much higher, according to a new watchdog report. The IRS paid $112 million of the claims, a small fraction of the $326 billion in refunds so far […]
(Chicago Tribune) — Hard time has gotten even harder in Illinois prisons. The state’s prison system is bursting at the seams with a record high of nearly 49,000 inmates, some 3,000 more than just a year ago. The surge, combined with the state’s multibillion-dollar budget crisis, has led to conditions that watchdog groups and veteran […]
(Chicago Sun Times) — The 13 men in the concrete classroom in Division 3 of the Cook County Jail never imagined they’d end up trading their military uniforms for the beige scrubs that mark each of them as an inmate. The men — once proud soldiers , several who served in combat units — know […]
It has been predicted that by 2020, 63 percent of all African-American males between 18 and 34 will be incarcerated.
(Chicago Tribune) — A panel commissioned to assess Gov. Pat Quinn’s troubled inmate early-release program found Friday that the administration pursued an “ill-conceived” path that traded protecting public safety for saving $3.4 million. To fix the problems, the state should overhaul its good-time-credit system to require inmates stay in prison at least 60 days, allow officials […]
(Amsterdam News) — On Tuesday, the New York State Senate passed legislation that could end prison gerrymandering once and for all. Passed as part of the revenue bill, the legislation states that people in prison be counted in their home communities and not the communities where they’re incarcerated for the purpose of redrawing district lines. […]
(Atlanta Journal Constitution) — Fifteen Atlanta corrections officers and their union representative stood outside the city jail Wednesday with a megaphone and a message: They are not safe at their place of work. Charles Clark, executive director of the local 1644 district of the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees, called for a […]
(NYT) — Four of New York’s most dangerous and troubled youth prisons will be placed under federal oversight, strict new limits will be imposed on the use of physical force by guards, and dozens of psychiatrists, counselors and investigators will be hired under a sweeping agreement finalized on Wednesday between state and federal officials. The […]